2007 Onalaska MOCC students. - FWS photo

The Regional Watercraft Safety Program finished a busy and successful 2007 field season with a total of 80 training certifications completed.

The DOI mandated MOCC courses were held at Marquette, Mi Biological Station, Ludington, Mi Biological Station, Osceola, WI Park Service Station (run by NPS), Crab Orchard NWR, ILL, and two at the USFWS Service Center, Onalaska, WI. 

An MOICC (Instructor Certification Course) was conducted in Onalaska, also, adding six new instructors to the regional instructor crew.

Two Airboat Certification Courses were held at Horicon NWR. The MOCC 5-year Refresher with the classroom portion taken on-line on DOI Learn is in place, and is being used for “re-certification” of regional watercraft users.

FY2007 breakdown: MOCC certifications= 55 (FWS-50, Univ. Student-1, NPS-1, USGS-1, MN DNR-2). Airboat certifications= 11 (FWS-6, USGS-1). MOICC certifications= 14 (FWS-10, R3 FWS-6, NPS-2, USGS-1, Bureau of Rec-1).

The FY2008 Regional Watercraft Safety Training course schedule will be finalized in January and sent to regional supervisors and employees at that time.

There were NO reported watercraft accidents in Region 3 in FY2007! Thanks Region 3’s Watercraft Operators, and Regional Watercraft Safety Instructor Crew!